Giancarlo Stanton is taking another big step towards finally making his season debut.
The Yankees announced Tuesday morning that their slugging DH will commence a rehab assignment beginning Tuesday night in Somerset with the Double-A Patriots, as Stanton continues to work his way back from tennis elbow in both elbows, an injury that has plagued him since the end of last season.
Stanton has been taking live batting practice and hitting off high-velocity machines for some time, but he finally will be getting into some game action in a final step before making his return. The Yanks haven’t had Stanton in the lineup since game five of the World Series.
Stanton was a monster last postseason, hitting seven home runs, including the game-tying home run in the clinching game five of the ALCS. In the regular season, he his .233 with 27 home runs in 114 games.
Injuries have been an issue for Stanton for much of his Yankee tenure, though typically he has struggled with lower-body injuries.
Whenever Stanton returns, the Yanks will have decisions to make regarding playing time for the likes of Ben Rice, who has been one of the team’s most impactful bats this season outside of Aaron Judge.